A/CN.10/2001/WG.I/WP.1

Transcription

1 9 April 2001 Original: English Disarmament Commission 2001 substantive session 9-27 April 2001 Agenda item 4 Ways and means to achieve nuclear disarmament Chairman s comments on proposed structure* 1. Introduction: General overview Discussion on the importance of nuclear disarmament in the current situation of international peace and security: The end of the cold war has set an auspicious environment for nuclear disarmament. Nuclear stockpiles have dropped by half over the last decade. Despite unilateral and bilateral efforts to reduce nuclear weapons, stockpiles of these weapons still exist, as well as the possibility of their use, whether accidental, unintentional or unauthorized. The total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons (NPT/CONF.2000/28). In 1996, the International Court of Justice rendered a legal advisory opinion on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons. The 2000 NPT Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, made up of nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States, unanimously agreed on a number of practical steps which constitute mutually reinforcing ways and means to achieve nuclear disarmament. These practical steps can only be realized through action by all States, nuclear-weapon States by themselves and non-nuclear-weapon States. The Disarmament Commission could build on those steps In order to maintain and strengthen international peace and security, the international community needs to undertake practical steps leading to nuclear disarmament without delay and, in this regard, every effort should be made to ensure that all States are engaged in this process. * Proposals made in the last session are in bold. New developments since the last session and comments are in italic (E) * *

2 At its tenth special session, the General Assembly accorded the highest priority to nuclear disarmament. There is an urgent need to eliminate nuclear danger without delay. 2. Interrelationship between nuclear disarmament and international peace and security (a) Changing political environment of the last decade. Description of changes in security doctrines and postures, including bilateral and unilateral reduction of nuclear weapons in the post-cold-war era. (b) Present political setting and its implications for nuclear disarmament. Description of developments in the field of disarmament of weapons of mass destruction: The enhancement of international peace and security and the promotion of nuclear disarmament mutually complement and strengthen each other (A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/CRP.1, General Assembly resolution 55/33 R). Further achievements in nuclear disarmament contribute to consolidating the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation, enhancing international peace and security (A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/CRP.1). The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is the cornerstone of the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation and an essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament (A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/CRP.1). Further steps leading to nuclear disarmament by all nuclear-weapon States are taken in a way that promotes international stability and are based on the principle of undiminished security of all Non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament are mutually reinforcing Steps to prevent proliferation of other forms of weapons of mass destruction and of their delivery systems are important in providing a positive international security environment for nuclear disarmament Furthermore, there is an interrelationship between nuclear disarmament and regional security situations 3. Review of achievements, current developments and emerging initiatives (a) Multilateral: Conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Indefinite extension of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Joint declaration by the countries of the New Agenda Coalition. Unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament to which 2

3 all States parties (to the NPT) are committed under article VI (of the NPT) Proposal in the programme of action for the elimination of nuclear weapons on negotiating a phased programme within a fixed period of time for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons (G28 initiative, CD/1419). Secretary-General s proposal on an international conference on eliminating nuclear dangers (General Assembly resolution 55/2). Proposal on an international conference on nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation (General Assembly resolutions 54/54 G and 53/77 Y). Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament. Follow-up on the legal advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. Proposal for the establishment of a Global Missile and Missile Technologies Non-Proliferation Control System. Missile Technology Control Regime. Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons (proposal) (General Assembly resolution 54/54 P, 53/77 X and 55/34 G). Consensus adoption of a final document by the 2000 NPT Review Conference Declaration at a Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting in Durban and proposals put forward in a meeting in Cartagena. Millennium Declaration (General Assembly resolution 55/2): to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear danger. Establishment of a panel of governmental experts on missile to prepare a report on the issue of missiles in all its aspects (General Assembly resolution 55/33 A). (b) Regional: Consolidation (support for A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/WP.4) of existing nuclearweapon-free zones and proposals for new nuclear-weapon-free zones. Disarmament Commission guidelines on establishment of nuclear-weaponsfree zones. General Assembly resolution 55/30 on the establishment of a nuclear-weaponfree zone in the region of the Middle East. The resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Mongolia s nuclear-weapon-free status (General Assembly resolution 55/33 S). 3

4 General Assembly resolution 55/33 W on the establishment of a nuclearweapon-free zone in Central Asia. General Assembly resolution 55/33 I on a nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas. Treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba (i) Bilateral: Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) process. Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Cooperative threat reduction programmes. Trilateral initiative between the United States of America, the Russian Federation and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Notification of missile launches. (d) Unilateral: Measures taken by China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America to reduce their nuclear arsenals, including the closure and dismantling of nuclear-weapon-related facilities Moratorium on nuclear-weapon-test explosions or any other nuclear explosions. Moratorium on the production of fissile materials for weapons purposes or other nuclear explosive devices. De-targeting measures taken by the nuclear-weapon States Unconditional decision of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine to relinquish nuclear weapons and voluntarily withdraw them from their territory (A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/WP.5). 4. Existing mechanisms dealing with nuclear disarmament (a) Within the United Nations system: Deliberative bodies First Committee (Disarmament Commission). Disarmament Commission. Negotiating body Conference on Disarmament. Disarmament machinery Department for Disarmament Affairs. Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters. (b) Outside the United Nations system: 4

5 START process. Nuclear-weapon-free zones. IAEA. Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization. NPT review process (A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/WP.3 and 4). 5. Ways and means to achieve nuclear disarmament (a) Conceptual approaches: Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. Tokyo Forum for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. New Agenda Coalition. General Assembly resolutions related to nuclear disarmament. NPT and its review process (A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/WP.3 and 4). Step-by-step approach to nuclear disarmament via START, FMCT and other steps, as described in the final document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference (A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/WP.4). (b) Practical steps: Entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Moratorium on nuclear-weapon-test explosions and any other nuclear explosions pending the entry into force of the CTBT. Negotiations on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile materials for weapons purposes or other nuclear explosive devices in the Conference on Disarmament. Establishment of a subsidiary body to deal with nuclear disarmament in the Conference on Disarmament. Application of the principle of irreversibility to nuclear disarmament. An unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament to which all States parties (of NPT) are committed under article VI (of NPT) (A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/WP.4). Early entry into force of START II and conclusion of START III, while preserving and strengthening the ABM Treaty. Completion and implementation of the trilateral initiative between the Russian Federation, the United States of America and IAEA. Further efforts by the nuclear-weapon States in unilateral reduction of their nuclear arsenals. 5

6 Increased transparency by nuclear-weapon States of their nuclear weapons capabilities. Further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons (tactical nuclear weapons). Concrete agreed measures to further reduce the operational status of nuclear weapons systems (de-alerting) (proposal to delete (de-alerting) A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/WP.4). A diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination. Engagement as soon as appropriate (A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/WP.3) of all the nuclear-weapon States in the process leading to the total elimination of their nuclear weapons. Arrangements by all nuclear-weapon States to place fissile material no longer required for military purposes under IAEA or other relevant international verification. Further development of verification capabilities which will be required to provide assurance of compliance with nuclear disarmament agreements and maintenance of a nuclear-weapon-free world Reducing the risk of unauthorized, accidental or unintentional use of nuclear weapons. Conclusion of the model additional protocol with IAEA. Establishment of an ad hoc committee on security assurances in the Conference on Disarmament (multilateral legally binding instrument for negative security assurances). Establishment of an ad hoc group on prevention of an arms race in outer space in the Conference on Disarmament. Consolidation (support for A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/WP.4) of existing nuclearweapon-free zones and establishment of such new zones. Bilateral and unilateral measures. Review of strategic postures and doctrines (no first use of nuclear weapons). Commitment by the nuclear-weapon States not to deploy their nuclear weapons outside their national territories. Universal adherence to NPT (A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/WP.2 and 3). Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference Reaffirmation that the ultimate objective of the efforts of States in the disarmament process is general and complete disarmament under effective international control Regular reports, within the framework of the strengthened review process for the Non-Proliferation Treaty, by all States parties on the implementation of article VI and paragraph 4 (C) of the 1995 decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, 6

7 and recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 8 July 1996 Unconditional commitment by all the nuclear weapon States not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States or nuclear-weapon-free zones and conclusion of a relevant international legal instrument (A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/WP.2) security assurances. Nuclear-weapon States to undertake to withdraw all the nuclear weapons deployed outside their territories/foregoing the nuclear umbrella policy and the practice of nuclear-sharing (A/CN.10/2000/WG.I/WP.2). 6. Conclusions and recommendations This section will be discussed and finalized in 2001 and 2002 sessions of Working Group I. 7